THE GIN DISTILLERY

Contemporary light-filled roof terrace with iroko timber flooring and standing seam zinc cladding with acacia and other planting. View through to bedroom from pocket roof terrace
A woman sitting and reading in a contemporary living room with high ceilings, light grey concrete-panelled walls, polished concrete grey floor, full-height black crittall window and a central black wood burner and flue with mid-century furniture

Photograph Credits: David Butler, Leon Chew, Rosella Degori

“A design that champions ideas of reuse & reinvention, the Gin Distillery moulds an unwieldy existing backland structure into a modern & inviting sustainable family home for four.”

A conversion of a derelict Victorian gin distillery into a family home in East London. As the distillery is surrounded by other buildings, the design challenge was to bring in a high quantity of natural light whilst maintaining domestic privacy.

The choice of materials was informed by simplicity & durability. The ground floor living spaces are characterised by exposed steelwork with timber & polished concrete surfaces. Large crittall windows retain & emphasise the rhythm of the building’s original apertures.

A black steel staircase at the back of the home emerges into a sun-filled landing off which sit two modern cabin-style bedrooms & a bathroom with Scandinavian redwood ceilings. The enclosed terrace connects to the bedrooms & allows for a tranquil outdoor escape from the bustle of the surroundings & vibrant cityscape. Throughout the interior, carefully placed apertures allow patterns of light to drift across the surfaces as the day progresses.

The project won a RIBA London Award in 2018.

“Located in the corner of a nondescript car park, [...] the Gin Distillery is a wonderful example of exemplary contemporary architecture. A project of palimpsests with the richness of the original Victorian building complimented by the quality of the contemporary interventions [...] The handling of light, space, views & height is excellent. The attention to detail is evident without being overcomplicated or fussy, & the finish & execution by the builder is exemplary.”  RIBA London Award

Link to Moving Image

Converted Gin Distillery with large warehouse crittall window, exposed Douglas fir timber joists and black steel beams with a polished concrete floor, stainless steel kitchen worktops, open pantry shelving, wood burner and light-filled interior
Light flooding into contemporary Gin Distillery converted interior in East London through exposed timber joists onto precast concrete walls with an internal window onto the black steel staircase
Child looking out of a large critter warehouse window in a contemporary converted Victorian Gin Distillery family house in East London. The front door is iroko timber and the facade is London stock brick architecture
A contemporary living room with high timber ceilings, light grey concrete-panelled walls, polished concrete grey floor, full-height black crittall window and a central black wood burner and flue with mid-century furniture
Contemporary renovation of a Victorian Gin Distillery in East London with London stock brick and a white-stained iroko timber door opening onto a contemporary light natural interior with exposed timber joists and black steel features
Light flooding in to contemporary Victorian Gin Distillery conversion in East London with precast concrete walls, exposed timber joist ceiling and black steel staircase balustrade with a polished concrete floor
Light flooding in to contemporary Victorian Gin Distillery conversion in East London with precast concrete walls, exposed timber joist ceiling and black steel staircase balustrade with a polished concrete floor. A planted roof terrace draws light in